32-Storey Hotel X Phase 2 and 5,500-Seat Venue Proposed at Exhibition Place

DEVELOPMENT PLANNING
February 12, 2026 by Anthony Teles   2.3K 

32-Storey Hotel X Phase 2 and 5,500-Seat Venue Proposed at Exhibition Place

A revised Site Plan Approval application has been submitted for Exhibition Hotel + Venue, the second phase of Hotel X within Exhibition Place. Designed by Populous for Harlo Capital in partnership with Exhibition Place, the proposal calls for a 32-storey hotel tower alongside a four-storey, 5,500-seat performance venue. The updated submission increases the hotel from the previously proposed 30 storeys, reduces the venue capacity, and introduces a revised public realm strategy for Toronto’s Exhibition Grounds.

Looking south to Exhibition Hotel + Venue, designed by Populous for Harlo Capital and Exhibition Place

The 27,600m² site, municipally known as 125 Princes’ Boulevard and also addressed as 2 Strachan Avenue, occupies a surface parking lot on the south side of Princes’ Boulevard, east of New Brunswick Way and north of Lake Shore Boulevard West. The property sits immediately west of the heritage-designated Stanley Barracks and south of the Princes’ Gate ceremonial arch, with the existing Hotel X complex located further east. To the south, the pedestrian bridge over Lake Shore Boulevard West links Exhibition Place to Ontario Place.

Looking east to the current site and Hotel X, image retrieved from Google Maps

Plans for a second phase of Hotel X have been in circulation since 2021, when OverActive Media advanced a proposal for a 30-storey hotel tower paired with a 7,000-seat esports-focused arena. Early iterations positioned the tower along Princes’ Boulevard, prompting Design Review Panel concerns about impacts on views toward Princes’ Gate, the bulk of the arena massing, and its relationship to the adjacent Stanley Barracks. 

Initial design by Populous for OverActive Media

A subsequent 2022 revision shifted the tower westward and introduced a plaza along the boulevard, while refining the venue form and public realm strategy in response to staff and panel feedback. Building on that evolution, Armstrong Planning & Project Management has now submitted a revised Site Plan Approval application to the City of Toronto on behalf of the developers.

Looking west to the previous design by Populous for OverActive Media

The revised scheme organizes the site with the hotel positioned on the western portion of the property and the performance venue to the east, stepping up in height from a four-storey, 26.44m-tall podium structure to a 32-storey tower rising 112m. This arrangement continues the westward shift introduced in earlier revisions, keeping the taller element away from Princes’ Boulevard and reinforcing view corridors toward Princes’ Gate.

Site plan, designed by Populous for Harlo Capital and Exhibition Place

The development would deliver 370 hotel units within a total Gross Floor Area (GFA) of 43,167m², resulting in a Floor Space Index of 1.57. Of the total GFA, 30,941m² would be allocated to the hotel component, with the remaining 12,226m² devoted to the performance venue. Architectural plans indicate seven elevators serving the hotel, equating to roughly one elevator for every 53 suites.

The four-storey venue would accommodate up to 5,500 seated patrons, a reduction from the earlier 7,000-seat concept. Designed as a tiered modern concert hall, the space is intended to host concerts, esports competitions, conventions, and corporate events. 

Looking southeast to the performance venue, designed by Populous for Harlo Capital and Exhibition Place

The submission emphasizes a redesigned public realm, including a sunken northern plaza facing Princes’ Boulevard, an elevated pedestrian connection between the hotel and venue, open spaces, and an archaeological overlook feature enclosed beneath a faceted glass canopy. Landscape elements would draw from the historic geometry of the Stanley Barracks, translating its footprint into contemporary ramps, planters, and circulation routes.

Ground floor plan, designed by Populous for Harlo Capital and Exhibition Place

The project proposes 382 vehicular parking spaces, comprising 86 surface stalls and 296 spaces within an underground garage. Bicycle parking would total 99 spaces, with 30 short-term spaces at grade and 69 long-term spaces below grade. 

The site is located approximately 600m southeast of Exhibition GO station, or about an eight-minute walk, with the future Ontario Line 3 interchange currently under construction. The surrounding Exhibition Grounds continue to function as a multi-modal event precinct served by surface transit routes along Lake Shore Boulevard West and the broader waterfront network.

An aerial view of the site and surrounding area, image from submission to City of Toronto

The proposal arrives amid significant transformation across the Exhibition Place and Ontario Place precinct. To the south, Ontario Place is undergoing a major redevelopment that would introduce the West Island / Therme Spa, a new Science Centre, a structured parking facility, and the RBC Amphitheatre. To the west, renovations at BMO Field are advancing in preparation for the upcoming World Cup.

Looking southwest to Exhibition Hotel + Venue, designed by Populous for Harlo Capital and Exhibition Place

UrbanToronto will continue to follow progress on this development, but in the meantime, you can learn more about it from our Database file, linked below. If you’d like, you can join in on the conversation in the associated Project Forum thread or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.

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UrbanToronto’s research and data service, UTPro, provides comprehensive data on construction projects in the Greater Golden Horseshoe—from proposal through to completion. Other services include Instant Reports, downloadable snapshots based on location, and a daily subscription newsletter, New Development Insider, that tracks projects from initial application.​